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Get feedback from the group about the time they had to spend with their children playing during the past week. What was
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Ice-breaker: Different views.
their experience?
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Introduction of the topic.
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Discussion on how a parent's HIV/Aids infection can affect a child.
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Discussion of the importance of disclosure and preparation of children for the death of a parent.
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Discussion on how a mother will disclose in a different manner to children of different ages.
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Discussion on how mothers can help their children to understand the HIV/Aids disease.
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Activity 1: Role play.
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Closure.
ICE-BREAKER
Different views
Materials needed: Photocopies of optical-illusion drawings (download from http://www.123opticalillusions.com/)
Activity
Hand out the photocopies to the mothers and ask them what they see.
Give them some time to discuss the pictures.
Discuss how a picture can be seen in different ways, depending how one looks at the picture.
Discuss:
The same situation can also be seen in different ways, depending on how it is looked at.
Example of optical illusion drawing (two faces or a vase)
INTRODUCTION
Discussion
Ask the mothers how a parent's HIV/Aids infection can affect a child?
BACKGROUND FOR THE FACILITATOR
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Children don't need to be ill or to have HIV/Aids themselves to be affected by it. It is very worrying for a child if a member of
the family is ill or has HIV/Aids. One problem leads to another, and this creates an enormous burden that is difficult for the
child to understand. It makes a child feel overwhelmed and hopeless.
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Problems seem to pile up one on top of each other and are known as 'cumulative stressors'. The effect of these cumulative
stressors can be devastating if the child can't access his or her inner resources (assets) and doesn't receive support from
outside.
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In a family affected by HIV/Aids, children will be faced with problems long before death occurs.
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When a parent realises (or thinks) that he or she has HIV/Aids, the parent may show less interest in the child.
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People with HIV/Aids may undergo dramatic mood swings because they are under a lot of pressure. They worry about having
the disease, and they worry about what will happen to them and to their families. One of the big decisions to be made is
whether or not to tell other people that they have HIV/Aids.
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Although the child may not know what is wrong with the parent or why the parent seems so moody, the child will definitely
see or feel that something is different and may react to these feelings with fear and anxiety.
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The real pressure begins for a child when he or she realises that the parent is often sick. Most children are unhappy when one
of their parents is ill, no matter what is wrong with them. When a mother or a father gets sick, life changes for a child that
lives with his or her parents. The normal rhythm and structure of family life changes (even for a little while) because the sick
parent can't do the jobs around the house that he or she normally does. Other family members have to help.
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Older children understand that these changes are because the parent is sick, but younger children may be very upset by the
changes in routine. Older children will have to accept more responsibility. Children of all ages may begin to feel neglected and
angry.
HIV
Intervention Programme for the ENHANCEMENT OF CHILDREN'S RESILIENCE
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